Iran updates: Iran officials push back against Trump's 'economic D-Day' threat
Trump vowed the "MOST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION EVER TAKEN."
President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.
Delegations from the U.S. and Iran entered negotiations in June aimed at a war-ending deal based on a memorandum of understanding signed by both countries.
The U.S. and Iran have nonetheless continued to exchange strikes, with the strategic Strait of Hormuz the primary flashpoint.
Key Headlines
- 'Not a single drop of oil will be exported' if 'economic war' continues, Iran official says
- Iran's security chief talks war with US, Trump, Strait of Hormuz, nuclear weapons
- US put Mideast allies at risk for Israel's sake, Iran's chief negotiator says
- IRGC spokesman says Iran has upgraded its military capabilities
- Bessent says if Trump puts 'maximum economic pressure' on Iran, 'large-scale' military strikes not likely to restart
Iranian commander warns Gulf states against helping US military
Iran's armed forces Chief of Staff Gen. Ali Abdollahi warned on Wednesday that any countries in the Persian Gulf that offer assistance to the U.S. military will be considered collaborators by Tehran.
"It is unlikely that such a large number of military aircraft, especially refueling planes, would be present at regional bases without the knowledge of the host countries," Abdollahi said in a statement.
-ABC News' Somayeh Malekian
Rubio speaks with UAE national security adviser after alleged missile attack
Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by phone on Tuesday with the United Arab Emirates' national security adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, after Abu Dhabi accused Iran of launching a new missile attack on the Gulf country -- one that Tehran denied responsibility for.
A statement from the State Department's Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said that the two officials "discussed a number of regional security issues, including Lebanon, as well as continued U.S.-UAE coordination to hold Iran and its terrorist proxies accountable for ongoing attacks."
"Secretary Rubio underscored the importance of freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz," Pigott said.
-ABC News' Shannon K. Kingston
Iranian official denies Iran launched missiles toward UAE
The spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry is denying claims that Iran launched missiles at the United Arab Emirates.
"The Foreign Ministry spokesman completely rejected the UAE's claim that Iran launched a missile at the country, expressing regret over the accusations against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and considered this behavior to be contrary to the principle of good neighborliness and disruptive to ongoing efforts to strengthen trust between regional countries and prevent the escalation of insecurity in the region," the spokesman said in a readout posted on Iranian state media FARS.
Earlier, UAE officials said air defenses detected two ballistic missiles approaching from Iran that were "targeting maritime navigation," which fell into the sea.
UAE detects 2 Iranian missiles, Ministry of Defense says
Air defenses detected two Iranian missiles fired toward the United Arab Emirates Tuesday, both of which fell into the water off the coast of the UAE, in its territorial waters, according to a statement from the UAE Ministry of Defense.
This appears to be the first time Iran has fired missiles directly at the UAE in several months.
Iranian projectiles targeted UAE ships in the Strait of Hormuz last week.